Pitchfork.



E. L. BELL.

. PITCHFOBKI APPLICATION FILED MAR. I. 1916. RENEWED JAN. 10. I917- Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

ATTORNEYS ELMER L. BELL, OF I-IOXIE, KANSAS.

Prrcrrronn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

Application filed March 1, 1916, Serial No. 81,370. Renewed January 10, 1917. Serial No. 141,692.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I ELMER L. BELL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hoxie, in the county of Sheridan and State of Kansas, have invented an Improvement in Pitchforks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in agricultural implements and has particular reference to a novel construction of pitchforks.

Anv object of the invention is the provision of a clamping or retaining device engaging the fork and handle portion thereof for preventing accidental displacement of the parts and also to reinforce the structure at the point of greatest strain.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which is simple in construction, easy to manufacture, and effective in carrying out the purpose for which it is de signed.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expres sions, some of which, for the purpose of illustrating the invention, are shown in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the clamp or retaining device.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing another form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 8 there is illustrated a well known construction of pitchfork including the handle member 10 having mounted thereon adjacent its lower end a sleeve 11, the lower extremity of the handle being surrounded by a ferrule 12, as shown in Fig. 2. The inner end of the ferrule 12 surrounds the adjacent end of the sleeve 11 and provides a shoulder engaging surface 13 for a purpose which willappear in the course of this description. The fork proper including the shank or head 14 and tines 15 is also provided with the usual tang 16 which extends through an opening formed in the ferrule 12 and projects into and is embedded in the handle of the implement. The clamping or retaining device 17 which comprises the essential feature of the invention is preferably made from a single piece of resilient metal and of a substantially U- shaped or yoke formation in cross section. The intermediate portion or closed end of the device 17 is preferably thickened as indictaed in order to give the same added strength and extending from said thickened portion are the complementary resilient arms or members 18 having their inner surfaces'concaved as indicated at 19 in order to conform substantially to the contour of the ferrule 12.

Adjacent the free end of each of the arms 18 the same is provided with a transverse projection or shoulder 20 which is adapted to engage over the'end of the ferrule 12 when the retaining device is in clamping position. ()wing to the resiliency of the arms 18 it will be readily understood that this clamping action is effected automatically and after the shoulders 20 are in engagement with the end 13 of the ferrule the parts will not become accidentally displaced. The extremity of each arm 20 is notched as indicated at 21 in order that a suitable implement may be inserted therein in order to disengage the shoulder 20 from the end of the ferrule whereby the retaining device may be detached from the implement. When placing the retaining device in position the same is moved longitudinally of the handle portion until the shoulders 20 snap into clamping position whereupon the inner surface of the intermediate portion will ongage the shank or head 14 of the implement and the coucaved surfaces 19 of the arm likewise engage the ferrule 12.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 41- and 5, the intermediate portion 17 is provided with an opening 22 for receiving the center tine 23 of a pitchfork, said tine being an extension of the tang 16 when the fork is provided with three tines.

What is claimed is:

1.- The combination with a pitchfork having a ferrule at one end of the handle portion thereof, of a retaining device of substantially Ushaped formation having an intermediate portion adapted to engage the shank of the pitchfork, and resilient arms extending from said intermediate portion and having inner concaved surfaces for conforming to thecontour of and engaging said ferrule, each of said arms being provided adjacent the free end thereof with a transverse shoulder for engaging over the end of the ferrule.

2. The combination with a pitchfork hav ing a ferrule at one end of the handle portion thereof, of a retaining device of substantially U-shaped format-ion having an intermediate portion adapted to engage the shank of the pitehfork, and resilient arms extending from said intermediate portion and having inner conca-ved surfaces for conforming to the contour of and engaging said ferrule, each of said arms being provided adjacent the free end thereof With a transverse shoulder for engaging over the end of the ferrule, the extremities of said arms being notched.

3. The combination with a pitchfork having a ferrule at one end of the handle portion thereof; of a retaining device having an intermediate portion adapted to engage the shank of the pitchfork, said intermediate portion being provided With an opening for receiving one of the tines of said fork, and resilient arms extending from said intermediate portion and having inner concaved surfaces conforming to the contour of and engaging said ferrule, each said arms being provided adjacent the free end thereof With a t "ansverse shoulder for engaging over the end of the ferrule.

ELMER L. BELL.

itnesses A. A. SMITH, J. E. TUCKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

